A report commissioned by Health Canada recommends an increase of more than 17% in taxes on cigarettes to allow the federal government to meet its goal of reducing smoking in the country.
« THE CIGARETTE TAX HAS THE GREATEST EFFECT!«
CBC obtained this report from US consultant David Levy of Georgetown University under the Freedom of Information Act. Ottawa has set a goal of limiting smoking to 5% of the population by 2035, up from over 14% today. However, according to the computer model of oncology professor and economist David Levy, taxation is a key element to achieve this.
To David Levy, author of the report: " Cigarette taxes have the greatest impact [on tobacco reduction], followed by warnings [on cigarette packs], smoke-free regulations, point-of-sale bans and help to quit smoking . »
According to Professor Levy, federal taxes on cigarettes should drop from 68% to 80% by 2036, so that Ottawa can achieve a limit on smoking to 6% of the population. He also thinks that the federal government could achieve its objective " faster By encouraging smokers to turn to electronic cigarettes, while admitting that this strategy presents a "risk".
Health Canada responds that no decision has been made on taxation and that the department is reviewing the 1700 submissions received during public consultations earlier this year. The federal government must deploy its new strategy against smoking by March 2018.
